Conclusive Proof

The reporters of news of the world had smug grins on their faces. They had after all established beyond all doubt that the Indians had been fixing matches for some time now.

More so it was the English and Australian boards that were more pleased with the revelations. Life was much simpler when you could blame the indian board for everything. The Pakistan board blame game was too lame - too easy plus it did not have the added advantage of pointing fingers at the money bag bullies.

What then was this conclusive proof? Was it video? Was it a sting? Was it substantiated? Was it hearsay?

No - it did not need a sting - it just needed the greedy indian players and the indian board to come out to make money at the CL T20 to reach this irrefutable conclusion.

Anil Kumble and MS Dhoni - the last two test captains of India were on air promoting the champions league. And both of them were saying just one thing "ab hoga asli muqabla"

The smart journalists had jumped on to the usage of "ab" and "asli muqabla" - it was now that a real competition would happen. Clearly betraying the fact that all matches before this were 'nakli' or fake meaning FIXED!

Suresh Kalmadi was glad that there was something now to divert attention from him especially since the cabinet minister for cricketing affairs - Sharad Pawar was laughing at him.

Sharad Pawar and the cricketers were not available for comment while Ijaz Butt could not reply since he was in the middle of a crazy celebratory dance!


An attempt at faking news.

The fear of failure

The one reason at the forefront for the yawning gap that exists between potential and performance has to be the fear of failure. The "What if this doesnt come off" probably ensures a lot of things that die out even before they are born. Because fear leads to doubt leads to tentativeness leads to failure.

How often - even in cricket (what else did you think this blog would draw parallels with?) - have we seen a fast bowler come charging down in a scenario with nothing to lose and give it his very best. A team batting first bowled out for 130 odd leaving very little chance for a victory - comes out knowing that while fielding there is nothing to be lost. And that liberation leads to the best coming out. The pacemen going all out - no one to block the boundaries - the fielders all in menacing attacking positions eager to snap up any chance that comes their way. Because there is no use in moping about the poor first inning now (the media will do it anyway) and hence seek whatever little joy they can bring their way with a spirited performance.

Sehwag has to be the best proponent of having no fear of failure (esp in test matches). He lives the moment - that particular ball. It never matters whether hitting this particular ball for what he believes it deserves causes a slide for the team. Or that foregoing the boundary here might set up the bowler to concede six later. He wants to cross those bridges when he comes to them and hence doesnt hesitate ever to make the most. The fear never exists because he has made his peace with the effort being worth it anyway

But it is perhaps this very fear of failure and the lack thereof that causes champions to fall to underdogs and for a bunch of no hopers to put one past the champions.

Logic and strength on paper would always mandate a champion victory. But then logic never accounted for the power that liberation from the fear of failure brings in. And ofcourse no body can ever account for spirit. Couple the two and you potentially have a bunch of impossible to explain results right on your hands. Why spot fix when the ROI on any betting would be infinite if only liberation and spirit were to be mixed.

As for me - i seek that liberation.

The Conspiracy

It was a grim time and shock was writ large on everyone's faces. How well they had acted all this while. Who would have ever thought? That it wasnt the usual suspect but them all along. But soon the shock and outrage would turn into gratitude. Not towards the criminals or the innocent usual suspect but to News of the World who brought out yet another dirty conspiracy.

Saturday and Sunday - the most loved of all days - the days every one welcomed with such joy and anticipation. The fun days! The best days! Oh why do they ever end! Such love everyone had for both of them. They had been exposed - for so long they had stooped so low and built up this image of greatness for themselves.

They werent nice - they were infact the S-Gang - much feared in Daykistan - all the other days save perhaps Friday were completely scared of them. They used all the leverage possible to make the others toe their line. What the S-Gang said was law. The S-word was obeyed by the others without protest. Except for that pesky Friday.

Investigations revealed that Monday was not a bad guy at all - he never meant anyone any harm. But the leverage the S-gang had over him and his poor family meant he had to go their bidding. They set him up as the worst guy - the one day that would be the worst right after S-gang had come in and done their 'we are the nice guys' routine. They made sure Monday had character - that Murphy would star only on a Monday and never else. That Monday would inevitably bring with him loads of work at office. That Monday would have broken chappals and traffic jams in unexpected places. That Monday would be the day you would sigh wistfully and long for those rascals Saturday and Sunday.

They ensured Mondays were so bad that in contrast even an ordinary performance from them during their showtime would be lapped up by the adoring masses gratefully and willingly.

The others just had to carry on what Monday started - they lacked the flair Monday had - he might be good at heart but a born actor he was too - but the damage he did at the top of the order was enough to sustain the supporting acts of the rest.

Except Friday. The one guy who really did his job truthfully. The one who signified the end of the dreary work week (keep in mind the S-gang had their role to play in making it dreary). He had principles. He had a backbone. He always made attempts to ensure that things wrapped up early with him around. He never liked those formal clothes and ensured on his day you could be yourself. Comfortable.

And he was popular - why wouldnt he be with all that he did! The S-gang was jealous. He was their immediate past and they did not hold much leverage on him. All they could do was stop him from ratting on them but never could they get him to do a Monday and make them look good. He was a star in his own right.

They started smear campaigns against him. Who do you think came up with the concept of 'Friday the 13th'? 'Black Friday' 'Freaky Friday' - Oh they did all they could to bring him down - to make him unpopular. But they couldnt succeed.

Today as their true colours were exposed - they stood there jealous of the one guy who stood up to them and would take the witness stand today in the expose by News of the World.

*Working on a Saturday can do strange things to the mind. Pakistan Cricketers can be inspiring in their own way too